Keeping an eye out for jobs before the move

[cassecouilles 3]

Hi guys,

I'm trying to be pro-active and to keep a look-out for any jobs that I might be qualified for, even though I am only moving to the States in May. I've already posted my resume on several websites like monster.com, indeed.com and linkedin. I know it's awfully early but I cannot stand the thought of being without work for months, let alone years.

Now, I know some of you have done the same. Based on some threads I've read, some of you actually already had a job lined up before moving to the states. I was wondering how you guys went about explaining when you would be available for work? I mean, ok I know that once I move to the States in May there will be paperwork to handle (I can look that up in the guides) that can or not take a long time. So did you guys just take your moving date, slapped on, say, three months on top of that and stated you would be available around that time?

I appreciate your thoughts on this :-)

[VanessaTony 3,567]

No-one will wait 3 months. You can't volunteer at a position that will end up paid. You are just looking at heartbreak. I tried doing the same thing but once you get here you need to get married. Then you need to pay $1070 to file your I-485 (plus work permit (EAD) and travel document(AP)). The EAD and AP takes 60-90 days.

The best you can do is look at what sort of benefits you should look for, what sort of income you should aim for etc etc. The time of year will affect whether there will be lots of positions available, as well as your location.

Don't forget you'll also need a drivers licence (in some cases) so you can drive to and from work. You'll need to be on the insurance to drive as well.

[Moomin 292]

Start looking right after you submit AOS(and EAD). Start applying a bit further into the process. Then you're closer to having work permit, and it's easier for an employer to determine.

In my home country, it wasn't rare to get the job 2 months before even starting. It's different here. My current job originally was looking for someone to start within some weeks however, they asked if I could start within 2 days instead after they interviewed me.

You can still search for, apply or go to job interviews. Even if they aren't willing to wait for your work permit and won't hire you, it's still worth the experience(and gain of confidence) to see what US employers generally are looking for. You just can't start working until EAD is approved.

[GandK 168]

If it is a high end engineer/management job with 10-15+ years of experience and you are an ideal fit, they may wait for you. Otherwise, most jobs are filled pretty quickly unless it is a very specialized job that they have problem finding the right candidate.

Also a lot of jobs in public sectors take months to finish the hiring process, they move sloooooow. My wife's position took 4-5 months going through the university HR dep. before they officially made her an offer. She started working right away as casual hire though.

[LeftCoastLady 441]

You can still search for, apply or go to job interviews. Even if they aren't willing to wait for your work permit and won't hire you, it's still worth the experience(and gain of confidence) to see what US employers generally are looking for. You just can't start working until EAD is approved.

A better approach would be to schedule informational interviews, so the prospect employer knows in advance that they can't hire you now, but you want to get an idea of what they're seeking in an employee, to gain insight on their company, and to share your enthusiasm about possibly working for them in the future. If the EAD has yet to be received or has yet to be filed, going through the employment process only to say, "Oh sorry, I can't actually work now!" would likely leave a bad taste in the company's mouth, so if you were to return to them later when you are able to work, they may hit the delete button on your application. YMMV.

[EmigratingSwede 16]

I formally immigrated on a trip a few months before we ended up moving permanently (We needed a few months to finish the sale of out condo and for me to quit my job gracefully). That way I had a green card before we made our final move (I entered on a CR1). I applied for a few jobs before we left and even interviewed for one over the phone before leaving. I ended up getting that job. The hiring process took almost three months, so I was still unemployed for a while. This was a highly specialized IT job though. From what the recruiter told me, even though they had been searching for months, they hadn't found anyone else with the skills they needed. I didn't have quite as much experience as they wanted (with this specific skill), but I was still the best they could find. I now make more money than I did before the move, but the amount of vacation will take some getting used to.

[Stefaan_Leslie 10]

I don't have a special degree, only went to school till 18. Was a bicycle mechanic in Belgium but here nobody uses a bicycle

As soon as I got my work permit (after a couple months in the USA) I went to Manpower, and started working in a factory the day after. It was minimum wage but I was earning something while looking for other jobs. I got a raise after a month being there.

After a couple months, my wife got a new job offer in a town 40 minutes from where we lived, so I had to look for a new job. Applied online with a staffing agency and started 2 days after in another factory. Better paid this time.

Conclusion: If you're not picky, it isn't hard to find a job. Better to do something basic while looking for a better job I guess

I applied for jobs online in the retail sector as well, but never got a reply from those companies. I think a lot of them put adds online, even when they don't need people. Best thing is going to a staffing agency.